Tooth decay refers to a problem in your smile in which natural oral bacteria penetrate your enamel, the outer layer of a tooth. Bacteria then eat away at the enamel, causing irreversible damage to the tooth. When it wears a hole in the tooth, dentists call the dental damage a cavity.
Cavities and tooth decay are common, but you must seek treatment from your dentist right away. The dentist can fix a cavity quickly in most cases with a dental filling. But if the tooth decay advances, it can create significant damage to the tooth that will require more extensive dental work to amend.
Untreated cavities will also endanger the health of the rest of your body in many ways. So do not ignore your dentist’s recommendations to treat tooth decay. Read on to discover three complications that can develop if you do not seek urgent treatment for tooth decay.
Decline in Oral Function
A cavity can present with some uncomfortable symptoms, including tooth sensitivity where enamel has worn enough to expose underlying nerves in the tooth’s interior. In cases of advanced tooth decay, pain can worsen from intermittent jolts to a more constant ache.
Chronic pain in your tooth may lead you to alter your routines and habits, including the way that you eat. You might begin to avoid certain foods or chew only on a certain side of the mouth so that you will not aggravate the damaged tooth.
Not only will you disrupt your diet with these behaviors, but you also could harm your other teeth when you exert extra pressure in certain areas of the mouth. Then you may struggle to complete more oral functions. Avoid this decline in your oral capabilities by addressing tooth decay promptly.
Increased Risk of Sickness
Tooth decay occurs due to oral bacteria eating away at your smile. You cannot get rid of tooth decay on your own. And if decay lingers in your teeth, then so will excess bacteria.
More bacteria in your mouth can mean that you have a greater chance of contracting another illness. And with your body already attempting to fight the bacterial presence in tooth decay, your immune system will be weakened and therefore more vulnerable to sickness. Stay healthier by seeking treatment for tooth decay in a timely fashion.
Severe Oral Infections
When you have a cavity and do not receive urgent treatment, bacteria will continue to erode your dental structure. If enamel deteriorates significantly, bacteria can reach the vulnerable interior of the tooth, which can lead to an infection in the tooth’s pulp.
You will need root canal therapy to treat this issue. And if the infection grows severe, it can easily spread throughout your body. The tooth is close to your brain, which may mean serious consequences if bacteria reach this part of the body.
Do not delay cavity treatment. Talk to your dentist if you notice any symptoms of cavities, including tooth sensitivity and dental discoloration. Visit your dentist on a routine basis as well so that they can diagnose early signs of tooth decay.